Machine for stamping and sealing envelops.



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PATENTBD NGV. 6, 1906.

J. E. BROAD. MACHINE POR STAMPING AND SEALING BNVBLUPS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 12, 1905.

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PATENTED NOV. 6, 1906.'

J. B. BROAD. MACHINE POR STAMPING AND SEALING ENVELOPS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 12.1905.

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PATBNTED NOV. 6, 1906.

J. E. BROAD. MACHINE FOR STAMPING AND SEALING ENVELOPS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 12.1905.

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y UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIOE.

JOENE'.; BRODQE-BROOKLYN. NEw YORK, AssiGNOR-Or ONE-HALF To HENRY P. OARRINGTON, OE .NEW YORK. N. Y.

MACHINE FOR STAMPING l Application filed August 12,

To @ZZ whom it may con/cern,.-

Beit known that I, JOHN E. BROAD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New yYork, have invented a new and useful Imstruction, composed of relatively few parts,

' and not likely to et out of order.

In this particu ar embodiment of the invention shown herein the machine is operp' ren on oneanothenanda Tpiieumatmler ated by a lever and upon supplying envelops and stamps the succeeding operations of positioning, stamping, sealing, and feeding out the envelop are performed automatically. The machine comprises generally an intermittently-actuated envelop-feed which positions the envelop simultaneously with the icking up and inoistening of the stamp, the atter being affixed as the forward motionI of the lenvelop stops, the flap of the envelop having been also moistened ready to be fed forward and sealed upon the next feeding motion. yThis next4 feeding motion occurs simultaneously with the return of the stampcarrying mechanism for the next stamp, which motion also draws the next envelop partially into the machine.

The stamping mechanism comprises a rece tacle adapted to' contain stripsf stamps mechanism damged t pifknntbe end stamp, themtgirgig itmefhanimosnjngiie on the forward movemenhbfore.striking the env elop. Means ,isprovided for holding the ile of stamps normally under pressure, which l 1s automatically relieved when one is to be picked up, and also means for preventing more4 than one stamp from being taken up at a time. I ,i

-An important feature ofthe invention resides in the mannerin which the envelop is moistened4 and sealed.- Ipropose to partially spread the flap at the time the envelop is first put in, and then 4 passthe .flap between two lates, thereby preventing it from buckling. ifounted adjacent these plates is a moistening-pot Y having a moistener .which movesl along the edge ofthe flap similarly to a cam as-the envelop moves along, the width ofthe Specification of Letters Patent.

AND SEALING ENVELOPS.

1905. Serial No. 273.851.

moistener being proportioned to the Width of Patented Nov. 6, 1906.

the gum on the flap. The envelo having A been thus moistenedisgealed an ...presse during its further Ymovement by a sealing-4 nger.

The invention will be more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawin s, in whichigure 1 is a transverse view, partly in secr' tion, showing the picker mechanism in osition to take a stamp. Fig. 2 is a longitu al elevation showing the feeding and driving mechanism. Fig. 3 is a plan view, and Fig. 4 shows the picker in the position of applying a stamp.

1 represents the base of the machinel hav-- ing mounted thereon the feed-table 2, which,

extends lengthwise of the machine. 'lll/ie envelo S are fed .alfine the tehlezhrmeans o e ts 3 4 5, the belts`4 5`being spaced and intermittently driven by pawl-and-ratchet devices. The belt 4 is mounted on rollers 7 8, the latter also carrying one end of belt 3.

The belt 5 is similarly mounted onrollers9 10,

the latter carrying the other-end of belt 3. The shafts of rollers 7 and 9 carry ratchets 11 12 and loose pulleys 13 14, res ectively, the latter also having driving-paw s 15 16. Attached to the o erating-Iever 19, the operation of which wi l be hereinafter described, vis driving-belt 20, which passes around guidepulley 21, pulley 14, idler 22, ulley 13,- uidepulleys 23 24 to lever 19. ver about to move in the direction o the arrow Fig. 1, it will, be seen that pawl 16 will pass idly over ratchet 12, but that ratchet 11, and consequently roller 7, will be driven by pulley 13 and-pawl 15. The driving of roller 7 also drives roller Sthrough belt 4 and belt 5 through belt 3 and roller l0, thus feeding the envelops on the table as the belts move.

When the lever 19 is moved in the reverse direction, as from the position shown in Fig. A

fthe. envelop. About under roller 7 thaplates -and28 have avertical s101139, in which oscillates a Amoistener 30. The m'jistener 30 comprises a tube 31, attached to a rocking reservoir 32, supported by trunnions 33. At the outer end of the tube 31 are the moistener 30 and a shoe 34, which engages the leading edge of the envelop-flap as the envelop is fed along. The reservoir is approximately balanced, so that a very slight pressure suffices to rock it, and thus as -the shoe 34 follows the edge of the flap the moistener contacts with the gum, and there is no tendency to buckle the flap, since the ressure is so slight. By thismechanism t e lap is necessarily moistened in exactly the right place, and as the reservoir tips up sufficient water will run into the tube to keep the pad wet, or a wick may be used.

35 is the sealer, consisting of an oscillating finger pivoted at 36 and connected with the lever 19 by a link 37, having a resilient bearing on the side'of the casing, so as to be oscillated horizontally in Fig. 3 and throw the flap up around a thin stationarynger 38, attached to the edge of the table 2. 40 is a cut-away portion of the table in which the oscillating finger '35 works, and as the envelop moves along the finger 35 will seal the flap around finger 38, the envelop at the same time moving free of the stationary fin er 38 and over the corrugated portion 41 of t e table 2.

l# lThe stamping mechanism comprises a stamp-receptacle 42, composed of parallel sides 43 43, a yielding top plate 44, a movable bottom 45, mounted on arallel links 46 and resiliently pressed upward by a spring 47, and, lastly, the pneumatic picker mechanism proper. The receptacle 42 is intended to contain stamps, referably in strips of ten,

laced gumme side-down,` and 48 is a pin aving a rounded end bearing against top plate 44 Aand passing through the erforations of the last two stamps. The o ject of this pin is to permit only the top strip of stamps to be picked u as these will ride over the rounded end of t e `pin while the other layers will not do so. 50is the picker proper, consisting of a tubular body having the enlarged end' 51 and attached to the tubular piston-rod 53, working in the pump-cylinder 54. is the um piston.

561s a fixe knife for cutting ofl'l the forward starip-:li has been lifted and drawn sufficiently forward by the picker. Connected with one of the links 46 is a sector 57, on

Vwhich a brake 58,'carried by lever 59, normally bears. -The uplper end of lever 59 is engaged by a latera yrojecting lug 49 on the picker, as seen in', ig. 1, to release 'the brake, thereby allowing the top layer of stamps to be pressed against the top plate 44, so as to facilitate the withdrawal of the top strip of stamps.

61- is a sprin normally holding the brake on sector 57. orward of knife 56 in Fig. 1 is the stamp-moistener 62, connected with a suitable reservoir 64.

which ridethe pins 67, carried by the picker. The lever is forked, as seen in Fig. 2, and there isl a pivotal connection between the pins 67 and the lever. Each slot 66 (see Figs. 1 and 4) causes the picker to first move the piston in the cylinder, so as to create sufficient vacuum to pick up the stamp, (upon moving the lever from the osition shown in Fig. 1.) Then the picker and) lever rise because of projection 70, which lifts the stamp over the edge of knife 56. Then the icker moves to draw the strip of stamps orward on the straight portion 71, then drops to draw the rear edge of the stamp over the knife, (see dotted position, Fig. 3.) Then a further drop on incline 73 draws the stamp over the moistener 62, and still further movement to the end of slot66 brings the picker to the solid position of Fig. 4, where the stamp is released from the picker by vent 75 and a plied to the envelop, which has been brouglit .to the correct position, as before described. In returning the pins 67 ride in a slot 77, so as to lift the picker over the knife, switch 78 causing this.

79 is an accelerator for the picker during the stamp-cutting movement, and 80 is a y switch to prevent the pins from going forward in slot 77 instead of 66.

Inasmuch -as the lever 19 cannot swing about any fixed fulcrum and produce an initial suction before the picker moves, I mount it in a ivoted slotted link 81. A link 82 extends om the lower end of lever 19 to lever 83, pivoted at 84 on the frame, and at 85 to a Iro] ection 86,rigid with the pump-cylinder 54.

he first movement of the lever 19 causes its lower end to travel downward in the slot of link 81 and through link 82 and lever 83, starting the suction by moving the pumpcylinder away from the piston. The initial movement of the lower end of lever 19 to the end of slotted link 81 besides producin an initial suction also fixes the lower -end o the lever as a fulcrum, which permits the necessary vertical movement as the ins 67 move through the cam-slots 66, this eing also in part accom lished by the reaction from the pump-cylin er through link 82, which also lnitially lifts the picker. A strong suction is thus produced independently of the movement of the picker, and at the same time the movement o the picker commences.

In some cases 1t is desirable to affix more than one stam to a single envelop, and I have provided or this with mechanism which stops the feed at suitable times to enable the next stamp to be affixed. Each of the pawls 15 16 is provided with a lug 90, which is adapted to be engaged by a pair of reciprocating cones 91, mounted on a bar 92.

93 represents actuating-cams, which reciprocate the bar 94 and thus lift the pawls, a spring IIO . t Juny...

95 returning the barwhen pressure of the operator on the cams 93 is released. By timing the actuation of the cams the amount of feed, and consequently the osition of succeeding stamps, can be control ed as desired.

In order to hold the last loose stamp positively to prmit the preceding one to be cut off as it is carriedforward, Iprovide the spring holding-finger 98, which has the extension 99 on the upper surface of the picker, so as to lift the finger when the' picker returns through the upper slot, but at other times bearing on the end stamp to prevent its accidental dis lacement.

It will t ereforebe seen that I have devised a machine which will stamp and seal' envelops in one operation and which .is positive in its actionand not. likely to get out of order.

I do not restrict myself to the precise construction I have shown and described herein, as this represents but one embodiment of my invention, and modifications and changes p may` therefore be made without departing from the scope of my invention.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with means for positioning an envelop, of means for moistening the/flap guided by the flap itself, means for applying a stamp thereto, and means for feeding the stamped envelop out of the machine and sealing it as it is fed out,substan tially as described.

2. The combination with means for positionng an envelop, of means for picking up and aflixing a stamp thereto, said positioning mechanism being controlled by said stampcarrying mechanism bstantially as `le scribed. *L ii 3. The combination with a reciprocating stamp picking-up and carrying mechanism', and envelop-feeding mechanism, of means whereby the stamp is picked up, cut ofi' from the succeeding one, moistened, and affixed to an envelop, substantially as described.

4:. The combination with a reciprocating .stamp pickin -up and carrying mechanism,

and envelopeedin mechanism, of means whereby the stamp 1s picked up, cut off from the succeeding one, moistened and afIixed to an envel'o during its forward movement, substantia ly as described.

5. The combination with a reciprocating stamp picking-u and carrying mechanism, of means where y the stamp is picked up, moistened and affixed to an envelop, and means whereby on the forward motion of the stamp-carrier the envelop is positioned to receive the stamp, and on the return motion of the stam -carrier, the envelop is fed out, substantial y as described.

6. The combination with a reciprocating stamp carrylng and affixing mechanism,

of an intermittently-actuated envelop-conveyer, envelop-sealing mechanism in the 'path of said-conveyer, actuating connections -for said conveyer effective upon one movesubstantially as described.

7. The combination with a reciprocating pneumatic stamp carrying and afiixing mechanism, of an intermittently-actuated envelop-conveyer, envelop-sealing mechanism. in the path of said conveyer actuating connections for said conveyer effective upon one movement of said stamp-carrying mechanism to position an envelop .to receive a stamp, and upon the opposite movement to cause the stamped envelop to be fed forward and sealed, substantiallyas described.

8. The combination with a pump, of a pneumatic picker connected therewith, means for moving the pump to create an initial suction on the picker, and means for thereafter moving the picker to maintain the suction and permit a stamp or other article to be carried, substantially as described.

9. The combination with a pump, of a pneumatic picker connected therewith, and

a lever for operating said picker having connections whereby the initial movement of the lever starts the suction, while further movement continues the suction and moves the picker, substantially as described.

10. The combination with a movable pneumatic picker and its pump, of operating devices for the pickerhaving connections whereby to move the pump to initially start the suction and thereafter move the picker to permit a stamp or other article to be carried, substantially as described.

11. The combination with a pump, of a pneumatic picker connected therewith, means for operating said dpicker, said operati means being adapte to produce an initia suction before moving the picker, means for directing the picker adjacent cutting-off and moistening devices, and means for relievi the suction as the picker approaches the en of its travel, substantially as described.

12. The combination with a pump, of a reciprocating picker connected t erewith, a lever for operating said picker having connections whereby the-initial movement of Athe lever starts the suction before it moves the picker, while further movement continues the suction and moves the picker, means for directing the picker adjacent cutting-off and moistening devices, and means for glvin the icker a different path .on the return o the ever, substantially as described.

13. The combination4 with reciprocating means adapted to pick and carry a stam or like article, of means for moistening sai article during the forward movement and releasing it at the end thereof, a belt. for feeding the envelops, .and means for operating IIO said belt at each movement of said stampcarrying mechanism to intermittentlyfeed the envelops forward, substantially as described. Y

14. The combination with reciprocating means adapted to pick up and carry a stamp or like article, of means for moistening said article durin' the' forward movement and releasing it at t e end thereof, and= intermittent envelop-feeding mechanism adapted to be actuated at each movement of said stamp-V carrying mechanism, substantially as de'- scribed. Y

15. The combination with a reciprocatin carrier adapted topick up and carry the en of a strip,l of means for moving said carrier transversely of a knife and then downwardly to cut off the portion attached to said carrier, means for clamping the end of the strip behind the knife, and -m'eans for releasing said severedy piece from'said carrier, substantially as described.

16.- An envelop-feeding device, comprising sup orting means, an intermittently-actuate belt extending along said support, and carried at each end on rolls, a pair of se arated belts between said rolls, and carrie at one end thereon', and reciprocating means ada ted to actuate one of said belts at each stro e andthereby actuate said first belt, intermittently, substantially as described.

17. The combinationwith sheet separating and carrying mechanism ofa sheet-receptacle having a top and a movable spring-pressed bottom plate, means-for retardin the pressure on the sheets, and means w ereby the Y, upward ressure is-increased as a sheet is to be with rawn, substantiallas described.

18. The combinationwit pneumaticsheet separating and carryingv'mechanism, of a sheet-receptacle havin a top plateand a movable, sprin -presse bottom plate, means normally retar in 'the pressure on the sheets, and means where y the retardin means is released as the neumatic mec anism is about to take as eet,` substantially as described. 1 f

19. The combination with pneumaticsheet separating and|` carr 'ngvmechanisim of a sheet-receptacle having a' top plate and a movable, spring-pressedl bottom plate, a brake normally retarding the spring-pres sure, andmeans whereby 'thel 'brake is re-I leased just'before a sheet is'lifte'd, substantially'as described.

20. -The combination with a xreceptacle adapted to contain perforatedvstrips, of a rounded pin adapted to pass throu h said perforations to aline said strips' and earin againstl a plate, means forpressing sai strips against the plate, and means' for grasping and' pulling the strip neXt the plate over the rounded end of the pin, substantially as described;

21. The' combination with a table, and 65 means forfeeding envelops along said table with their flapsspread out at an angle thereto, of a Hat stationary finger projecting in the line of feed from the edge of said table along which tliefla s travel, `the table being cut 7o away interiori; so that the envelop is supported by said finger 'and the opposite edge of the table, means for sealing the iiap around said finger while the envelop is over the' cutaway portion of the table, and meansI for then feeding the envelop ofi from the free end of said finger and pressing the flap, substantially as described.

22. The combination with stamp-carrying mechanism, of envelop-feeding' mechanism, 8o and means for stopping the envelop-feed independentlr of the stamp-carrying mechanism, whereby a plurality of stamps may be applied to onel envelop, substantially as described.' '85 23.' The combination with a pneumatic stamp-carrying mechanism, 'of envelop-feeding mechanism, moving simultaneously therewith, and means for stopping the envelop-feed independently of thestamp-carry- 9o ing mechanism, whereby a plurality 'of stamps may be applied to one envelop, substantially as descri ed.

24. The combination with a reciprocating stamp-carrying mechanism, of envelop-feeding mechanism actuated intermittently at each movement of the stamp-carrying mechanism, and means for throwing out the envelop-feed independently of the stamp-carrying mechanism, substantially as described.

25. The combination with envelop-feeding mechanism, of means for applying stamps thereto, means for sealing the fiap around a stationary finger, and a belt adapted to move the envelop over a corrugated table to press the stamp and the flap, substantially as described.

26. The combination with a means for guiding the iiap of an envelop, of a bar ad-apt` ed toen age and moved by the ed e of said Hap, an 'a moistener carried bysaid bar for moistenin the gummed surface of the flap, substantia ly as described.

27. The combination with a pair of plates adapted to uide the fla of an envelop, of abar adapter? to be oscil ated by the edge of said flap as it is moved along, and a moistener carried by said bar for moisteninor the gummed surface of the flap, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I-have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 11th day of August, 1905-.

JOHN E. BROAD.

IOO

`Witnesses:

GEO. A. HOFFMAN, G'Eo.- N. KEER. 

